Becoming summoned to, visit and exit a “Barnahus” from Child Perspective
(2017) 15th ISPCAN European Regional Conference on Child Abuse & Neglect- Abstract
- The institution ‘Barnahus’ [Children’s House] have been established in the Nordic countries in purpose to improve the investigations and collaboration of involved agencies in protecting children in suspicion of being victims of serious crimes of abuse. Sometimes children visit Barnahus with their parents. In Sweden when custodians or related persons are suspected, children can be summoned to Barnahus without the custodians’ knowledge or consent. This study include visits with and without parents. The aim is to focus on children’s understanding of becoming summoned, visit and exit a Barnahus, and to use a child perspective in exploring the context of Barnahus. This dialogical participatory action research study is conducted on initiative... (More)
- The institution ‘Barnahus’ [Children’s House] have been established in the Nordic countries in purpose to improve the investigations and collaboration of involved agencies in protecting children in suspicion of being victims of serious crimes of abuse. Sometimes children visit Barnahus with their parents. In Sweden when custodians or related persons are suspected, children can be summoned to Barnahus without the custodians’ knowledge or consent. This study include visits with and without parents. The aim is to focus on children’s understanding of becoming summoned, visit and exit a Barnahus, and to use a child perspective in exploring the context of Barnahus. This dialogical participatory action research study is conducted on initiative and in collaboration with the involved social welfare organisations in 5 municipalities and the other agencies of a Barnahus. Methods in use are observations at Barnahus, interviews with children respectively persons accompanying children to and at Barnahus including parents, safety persons and welfare case workers. The study also includes regular feedback and inquiries in a consultative expert panel of Barnahus. The results show scarcity in the invitation of the children as well as in children’s exit and social workers’ approach of the children when the police interview is over. When summoned children are not becoming involved, consulted nor given information about what is going on or why. Children, not assessed needing any immediate protection, are risking leaving Barnahus without having met their social worker or having continuing support or information secured. In the middle of not becoming involved before and after Barnahus, children are expected to perform, take responsibility and act in the upcoming police interview. Children’s understanding of the house become: A child friendly place with toys, videos and journals, fruit drink and biscuits, friendly policemen, and a scary part, the police interview. We discuss possible improvements. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/e2c94a6a-32ed-432e-a83d-cf4590449c10
- author
- Olsson, Ann-Margreth E. and Kläfverud, Maria LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2017
- type
- Contribution to conference
- publication status
- published
- keywords
- Barnahus, Children's house
- conference name
- 15th ISPCAN European Regional Conference on Child Abuse & Neglect
- conference location
- Hague, Netherlands
- conference dates
- 2017-10-01 - 2017-10-04
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- e2c94a6a-32ed-432e-a83d-cf4590449c10
- date added to LUP
- 2018-04-06 20:00:39
- date last changed
- 2018-11-21 21:39:08
@misc{e2c94a6a-32ed-432e-a83d-cf4590449c10,
abstract = {{The institution ‘Barnahus’ [Children’s House] have been established in the Nordic countries in purpose to improve the investigations and collaboration of involved agencies in protecting children in suspicion of being victims of serious crimes of abuse. Sometimes children visit Barnahus with their parents. In Sweden when custodians or related persons are suspected, children can be summoned to Barnahus without the custodians’ knowledge or consent. This study include visits with and without parents. The aim is to focus on children’s understanding of becoming summoned, visit and exit a Barnahus, and to use a child perspective in exploring the context of Barnahus. This dialogical participatory action research study is conducted on initiative and in collaboration with the involved social welfare organisations in 5 municipalities and the other agencies of a Barnahus. Methods in use are observations at Barnahus, interviews with children respectively persons accompanying children to and at Barnahus including parents, safety persons and welfare case workers. The study also includes regular feedback and inquiries in a consultative expert panel of Barnahus. The results show scarcity in the invitation of the children as well as in children’s exit and social workers’ approach of the children when the police interview is over. When summoned children are not becoming involved, consulted nor given information about what is going on or why. Children, not assessed needing any immediate protection, are risking leaving Barnahus without having met their social worker or having continuing support or information secured. In the middle of not becoming involved before and after Barnahus, children are expected to perform, take responsibility and act in the upcoming police interview. Children’s understanding of the house become: A child friendly place with toys, videos and journals, fruit drink and biscuits, friendly policemen, and a scary part, the police interview. We discuss possible improvements.}},
author = {{Olsson, Ann-Margreth E. and Kläfverud, Maria}},
keywords = {{Barnahus; Children's house}},
language = {{eng}},
title = {{Becoming summoned to, visit and exit a “Barnahus” from Child Perspective}},
year = {{2017}},
}